County planners review regs for alternative energy

McCOOK Neb. – The Red Willow County Planning Commission reviewed a revised draft of zoning regulations covering solar farms at a special meeting Thursday at the Red Willow County Courthouse.

Keith Marvin of Marvin Planning Consultants of David City, Neb. presented the revised draft of the zoning regulations that would be required by the county to obtain a conditional use permit for alternative energy developments.

Red Willow County Board of Commissioners placed a temporary moratorium on alternate energy development in January 2023., requesting that the planning commission consider regulations regarding the size and capacity of such developments. Without extension, that moratorium will expire in January 2024.

A major concern was the potential fire risk. Under the proposed guidelines, a solar farm would be required to provide all fire departments serving the proposed area with additional training on fighting electrical fires involving solar systems and on-site battery storage.

The owner of the solar farm would also be required to aid the local volunteer fire departments with financial assistance in purchasing adequate suppression materials for fighting fires at the location. Commissioner Randy Dean emphasized that the language would require training and equipment, not only for the department that covers the location of the solar farm, but also for any departments that would be called for mutual aide if necessary.

The planning commission also discussed set-back requirements, favoring a one-mile setback requirement for any non-participating property. A participating property would have no setback requirement.

The regulations also provide for various screening methods: fences, walls, berming, vegetation, or some combination. Trees must have a minimum mature height of 15 feet.

In response to environmental and agricultural concerns, large solar farms would not remove more than 20% of any land from production considered to be areas of “prime farmland.” Marvin commented that some solar farms plant wildflowers under the cells that make pollinators thrive, benefiting local agriculture.

This past June, a solar farm near Scottsbluff was destroyed by baseball-sized hail, making many skeptics wary of the possibility that it could also happen here.

The conditional use permit would require a decommissioning plan, including removal of equipment/improvements and restoration of lands that would be reviewed and approved by the county prior to beginning operations. A surety bond would be required for 110% of anticipated decommissioning costs.

A copy of the interconnection agreement, or proposed agreement with the local electric utility, must be submitted with the application for conditional use. A solar farm would be considered abandoned after one year without energy production.

A planning commission meeting will be scheduled in December for final consideration of the zoning regulations, at which time a public hearing will be scheduled. Commissioners have final approval of the regulations.